Youth UDHR Mural

During the weekend of March 16-17, 2024, youth from ARTE's Youth Voices Lead: UDHR program gathered to paint a mural at P.S. Mary McLeod Bethune school in central Harlem. Led by artist and muralist Laura Alvarez, these youth spent two days painting to share their human rights message and vision with the community.

​

Located on 133rd Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, the mural design highlights Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment.” Exploring themes of freedom, hope, growth, mass incarceration, and human rights, the mural features imagery of prison bars transforming into flowers and reaching for the sky. 

​

​

​

Special thanks to Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the leadership and staff at Mary McLeod Bethune for their tireless and invaluable support of this project. To learn more about our current session of Youth Voices Lead, please visit the linked website page. To support this program and other youth arts initiatives, please consider becoming a monthly donor!

​

Please enjoy the following photos, which document the painting process!

​